GROUPS of travellers will welcome plans for a greater number of legal stopping points in the region, according to thepolice'stravellersand gipsy liaison officer.

The Local Government Association is callingoncouncils toincreasethenumber of legal sites for gipsy and travelling communities - to make up a shortfall which forces about 4,000 members of the communitytostopon illegalsiteseachday.

It says more legal sites would enable policetoclear illegalstoppingpointsmore easily, as well as enabling local authorities to collect Council Tax from travellers and offerbetterlivingconditions.

PC Mark Guilford, Middlewich police's liaison officer, said: 'At the moment, we are able to move on unauthorised camps from areas such as Pochin Way, but without sufficient legal sites, where are they going to go?' 'This plan would benefit everyone. Many people are unhappy travellers stay in places illegally, but the travellers themselves aren't happy. They want to be able to stop somewhere where they know they can stay for a while.

'While they are being moved on, on an almost monthly basis, they can't send their children to school or get proper health checks as they know it's a matter of weeks before they are moved on.'